BOCA RATON, Fla. -- It was perhaps Brendan Shanahan who put the NHL's great dilemma most succinctly here at the general managers' meetings when he noted that when players attack with the puck they are lower to the ground.

Try it out. Pretend your carrying the puck down the ice. Your head is lower. It's called physics.

And when you defend, Shanahan pointed out, you are standing upright.

Try it. Pretend you're getting ready to check an opposing player coming toward you. Are you not more upright, higher than say, the skater?